Arsenal legend David Seaman has now revealed one thing that Mikel Arteta expects from the club’s Hale End academy setup.
Arsenal are keen to make the most of their academy system.
The Gunners have had some academy success stories in recent years. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and Eddie Nketiah are all currently members of Mikel Arteta’s first team squad who came through the club’s youth ranks.
Why Mikel Arteta is seeking to assist Arsenal Hale End academy prospects
There are a number of talented young prospects currently on the books at the Emirates Stadium, too. Amongst others, Arsenal have high hopes for the future of Ethan Nwaneri. The teenage wonderkid has already become the youngest player in the club’s, and Premier League, history.
Nwaneri recently committed to his future Arsenal and will almost certainly make further appearances at senior level in time.
Bridging the gap between the academy and the senior side is one of the hardest journeys that all players must undertake in their careers. However, Arteta has put in place certain measures at Arsenal to help the club’s youth prospects to negotiate this transition.
David Seaman has now shed some light on the systems that exist at Arsenal to aid young players as they step up to the first-team.
David Seaman shares tactical instruction given to Arsenal academy
Speaking on his Seaman Says podcast, the former goalkeeper revealed, “they want the [academy] players to play in the exact same way, so that if they do get a chance to go into the first team, it’s nothing different for them. It’s the way that they play you know, even down to the goalkeepers…The young lads, they go straight in there without the fear of not being able to handle it tactically…it’s exactly what they’re doing at every level.”
In 2021, as reported by The Standard, Seaman returned to Arsenal to work with the club’s youngsters in a coaching capacity. He is therefore particularly well-placed to comment on how the club manage their academy system.
In his playing career, the 60-year-old made 564 appearances for the Gunners, across all competitions, as he spent over a decade between the sticks for the club. In his playing days at Arsenal, Seaman won three league titles, four FA Cups, and the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup, amongst numerous other honours.
Seaman is now eager to see Arsenal achieve further success. He will be hoping to see some of the club’s most promising youth candidates make an impact in the first-team over the course of the next few seasons and play their part in helping the Gunners to win some silverware.
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